Horse muzzle and fly shield



Sept; 17, 1929. -c. PERKINS 1,728,443

HORSE MUZZLE AND FLY SHIELD Filed Sept. 10, 1928 /Z I 5 ,6 72 M l4 66 l6l4 I' m 20 I /6I 25 I 20: 0. 25

56 T J6 Z 36 f 22 22 Z5 /6 main/or 71/, Cfdflllt'! pZ/IIIZJ' PatentedSept. 17, 1929 UNITED STATES CLARENCE PERKINS, or ELDORA, [IOWA HORSEMUZZLE AND FLY SHIELD Application filed September 10, 19:28. Serial No.304,962;

The object of this invention is to provide an improved construction fora muzzle and shield particularly designed for use on horses and soarranged as to prevent the lodgment of flies and other insects on andabout the animals nose and mouth.

A further object is to provide a device of the character described whichis simple, durable, and efiicient for the purpose.

With these and other objects in view my invention consists in theconstruction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of mydevice, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinaftermore fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in

which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing one of my improvedmuzzlesimposition for practical use. I

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the device.

Figure 3 is an elevation as viewed from the position indicated by thearrow in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a View similar to Figure 3, illustrating the means foradjusting the device to a smaller size.

I have employed the numeral 10 to designate an oval band whichpreferably is formed of a length of rather heavy wire and which iscapable of encircling the muzzle of an animal such as a horse, as shownin Figure 1.

Fixed rigidly to the band 10 is a longitudinal strap member 12 and atransverse strap member 14. The strap members 12 and 14 preferably areformed of strips of sheet metal which are connected at their ends to theband 10 in any suitable manner such as byformin eyes or loops 16 whichencircle the band and are rigidly secured by rivets 18.

The strap members 12 and 14 extend forwardly a considerable distancefrom the plane of the band 10 to form a cage-like structure, as clearlyshown in Figure 2, and where said strap members cross each other theyare rigidly secured together by means of rivets 20.

When the device is mounted on the muzzle of a horse, the band 10 islocated at a distance back of the nose and the longitudinal strapextends over the mouth and nose of the animal between the nostrils,while the transverse strap member 14 extends transversely around thenose at a point near the mouth.

I have also provided a chin strap 22 which is formedof sheet metal andis securedat its ends by rivets 24 to end portions of the transversestrap 14 and extends at an angle between said strap and the lower partof the band 10.1 The chin strap 22 crosses the lower or rear part of thelongitudinally strap 12 and issecured thereto by arivct 26. y I

-lWl1en the device is in place, the chin strap 22 covers a considerableportion of the chin of the animal. The eyes or loops 16 of theio'ngitudinal and transversestraps preferably are formed with centralnotches 28 which expose portions of the band 10.

Attaching straps such as 30 are suitably at tached at one end each torings 32 carried by the bridle worn by the animal and these straps areattached at their opposite ends to the band 10 in the notches 28 of thetransverse strap 14. e

A front supporting strap 34 may also be at tached to'the upper frontportion of the bridle and be fixed at its lower end to the band 10 inthe notch 28 at the forward part of the longitudinal strap 12.

Inpractical use, this device serves not only the usual functions of amuzzle, but also serves to cover considerable portions of thenose,,mouth and chm of the animal and thus prevents the lodgmcnt offlies and other insects which are very troublesome in certain localitiesat certain seasonsof the year.

By being formed of metal straps rigidly connected tothe, band and toeach other, I have provided a device which is not only cheap andeconomical to manufacture, but

also very durable and not likely to be bent or 36 to prevent Withdrawalfrom the eye or loop 16.

In the event it is desired to adjust the device to a smaller size, theband 10 may be compressed by suitable pressure on the end portions ofthe oval, thus causing the loose ends of the Wire toproject greaterdistances through the eye 16. As shown inFigure 4 the end portions ofthe wire may then be bent outwardly at any suitable points such as 38 tolessen the diameter of the band 10 and the projecting portions may, ifdesired, be cut off at points indicated by the arrows in ure 4.

There is sufficient resiliency in the straps 12, 14 and 22 to permitthis adjustment of the band 10, as these straps may be sprung outwardlygreater distances from the plane of the band whenits diameter iscontracted.

I claim as my invention: v

V 1. A device of the classdescribed, comprising an oval band, a metalstrap extending longitudinally and secured rigidly at its ends to saidband,,a metal strap extending transversely and secured ri idly at itsends to said band, and a chin strap extending obliquely across therearportion of sald longltudinal strap and secured rigidly at its ends toend portions of said transverse strap, said straps ,be-lng oiconsiderable width and substantially imperforate whereby considerableareas of the animaPs muzzle are covered and protected thereby.

2. A device of th class described, comprising an open band havingoverlapping ends, a

metal strap extending transversely'and having at one end a loop throughwhich said overlapping ends extend loosely, the terminal portions ofsaid overlappin ends being bent to form stops preventing withdrawal ofthe ends from said loop.

3. A device of the class described, comprising an ,openband havingoverlapping ends, a metal strap extending transversely and having-at oneend a loop through which said overlapping ends extend loosely, theterminal portionsofsaid overlapping ends being capable of variablebending; to form stops preventing withdrawaloi the ends of said loop andper- ;mitting adjustment of the diameter of said band.

Des Moines, Iowa, August 31, 1928.

CLARENCE PERKINS.

